Exclusive: Outrigger not abandoning Australia

Outrigger Enterprises Group has exclusively told HM it is not abandoning Australia, despite the sale of the company’s operations in the country to Mantra Group today.

The company says under new company standards, the existing properties did not meet the criteria of being located directly on the beach and it was looking at re-entering the market with new acquisitions.

“Today’s transaction does not include in any way the sale of the Outrigger brand name nor the right to use the Outrigger brand in future in Australia,” Outrigger Enterprises Group’s Director of Public Relations, Nancy Daniels, told HM.

“The Outrigger brand continues to be owned by Outrigger Enterprises Group, based in Hawaii.

“This is a strategic realignment of our portfolio to better match the Outrigger Resorts brand which focuses on premier beachfront destinations.

“While our Australia portfolio included properties located in coastal destinations, they did not meet the criteria of being located directly on the beach.

“This move by no means is an indication that Outrigger is leaving Australia. We are not in any way selling or franchising our brand. We have a strong connection with the people of Australia. Our newly established Australia Regional Sales and Marketing office in Sydney, led by Andrew Gee, demonstrates our commitment to the Australian market, which is key for us globally.

“Outrigger will continue to seek out properties along the vast Australia coastline that fit the new Outrigger Resort brand standards,” Daniels said.

She added that as part of the agreement, with the exception of a few strategic personnel who will remain with Outrigger, all Outrigger employees at the OHRA office and affected properties will be retained by Mantra.